Red Bull trio of Sergio Perez, Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo views the latest saga about race seat ahead of F1 summer break.
The debate around the second seat at Red Bull continues on for another week despite Perez having a secured contract. In fact, the Mexican is 100% certain that Belgian GP won’t be his last F1 race with them, while not giving in on the rumours around him.
He didn’t wished to elaborate on the comments made by Helmut Marko about a potential meeting on the Monday after the Belgian GP to decide the future course. Perez knows the system of Red Bull, but still has faith in himself and his contract.
Over at Visa Cash App RB, Tsunoda knows there is a chance to drive for Red Bull and he wants his name in the list of potential candidates too. He hasn’t had any talks with Christian Horner or Marko per se, but hopes that he is being discussed.
In fact, he did have a chat with Marko about critical weekends, but he didn’t understand at that time what was happening. He knows that his performance is not the sole factor in decision making, amid screams of Ricciardo getting a look in ahead of him.
The Australian does have discussions with Horner and Marko on a regular basis, but it isn’t solely about the Red Bull F1 seat. It is mostly since they still have a good relationship and there is a lot of other things to discuss apart from return to the senior team.
Managing noise, environment at Red Bull –
Perez: “I answer your questions and when I finish here I forget about them and I really go to my garage which is where we work with the engineers and with the team. When you look at it there has been other drivers that have had a similar period of bad races but it’s not so noticeable. I think in Red Bull there is a lot of talk all the time on the media and the scrutiny is probably worse for the Red Bull drivers definitely. But at the same time as a driver from my career I grew up like this. I grew up since my karting days. If I didn’t win a race I didn’t know if I was going to make the next race. I think I was pretty up already with a lot of pressure in my career. So it’s no different. I think in Formula 1 drivers we are pretty used to this sort of pressure.”
Belgium not last race –
Perez: “Yes, correct [I am 100%]. Because I know what’s… I know basically what’s in my contract and I know what the team trusts in me. And I know where is the main focus which is on delivering on the on track.”
Marko’s comments, frustration –
Perez: “It’s something to ask him. I don’t know. I haven’t spoken about that about that particular point. Like I said, I feel like the whole team is fully focused on getting back on track, getting our season back on track and the rest is pure speculation. The team is really working hard with me to get the season back on track. Winning the constructors’ championship, it’s all what we are working on. There hasn’t been any further discussions than getting our season back on track. Like I said, you know, it’s how this team operates, it’s how it is and I’m fine with it. You know, I focus on the team, I’m focused within the team to get the maximum out of the team, out of the car. The rest, like I said, you know, it’s pure speculation. I’m not worried about it. Like I said, I know where I stand. So yeah, that’s not my concern. My only concern I have is to get my season back on track. The rest, I’m pretty chilled about it.”
Critical weekend –
Tsunoda: “Well, I guess, for Red Bull drivers except Max all races are critical. And, you know, like just last round, whatever, you know, like those things. Just got used to it, and just do my normal race. If you see last previous races since race one it’s quite clear how much I prove on the tracks. Amount of Q3 appearances, amount of points taken in each tracks – I think I’ve proved enough, you know. Obviously, this race will be important as well. See how it goes.”
Any discussions –
Tsunoda: “Well, I don’t know. At this point, I don’t know [if] they [are] considering me or… Maybe they are considering me… I don’t know. I guess, [it’s the] same for everyone. No other drivers except Max get any information about that. Probably they are having conversation in background. Hopefully I am [mentioned] in conversation. I don’t know what I should have done more. I’m happy with my [performance] and what I’ve done until today. What should I do even more than that? So even after you guys talk about this stuff, talk about the rumours around the Red Bull seat, it’s quite clear how many points I earned compared to other drivers. I’m happy with what I’ve done. There are things I can control. And I can’t control things like their decision. I only focus now on the things I can control, which is performance. And let’s see how it goes this race.
“[And] no [discussions held in past week with Helmut or Christian]. Last he [Helmut] told me in… where was it? In Spain? No, Austria. Whatever. Like, “next week races will be important for the future”, whatever – but I guess at that point, I don’t know, Austria wasn’t good. So I was thinking, “Okay, maybe he’s talking about my future about my Formula 1 seat, rather than Red Bull seat”. So, I was not really asking deeply about that. And it’s kind of typical Helmut that you know, if I didn’t perform well two races or one race – immediately he comes to you and, you know, put pressure. So it’s like kind of usual day for me. I had kind of this. After that you see, you know, it was quite clear what I have done. Other than that, I haven’t had any conversation.”
Disappointment –
Tsunoda: “I don’t know about other drivers. Seems like other drivers reacted like also they don’t have that kind of conversations. I don’t know about the driver who currently is not racing now. But these are things that obviously…have to be decided as soon as possible. obviously, I would like to be in that seat, 100%. Rumours are flying around “need to have this race good’. This gives extra pressure from things that I never even get to talk about, nor have any idea about that… Obviously, I just hope it. As a driver there are a couple of races I could have done better, for example, Montreal. I was in the points and lost points with my hands. But other than that – please compare the Q3 appearances, the qualifying results and the race results. It will be clear. It’s quite clear, but other than that, I don’t know.”
Seat outside performance factor, contract –
Tsunoda: “It seems like they are also other factors. based on rumours, they consider other drivers as well. If they only list and look at the performance it’s quite clear. It’s very clear that I’m the one performing well. Even in top midfield, you know, all the drivers – if you compare to all the drivers. As for contracts, apparently even like what Helmut say they can play around anything he wants. You know, even the contract is almost nothing. To be honest, I didn’t read properly. So whatever. I guess it’s more like, it says…. for now I guess this team….”
Situation now –
Ricciardo: “I don’t know. Yeah, honestly, I don’t know. But like always, just focus on myself and what I can do. Every race or few races, the narrative changes and that’s the sport we’re in. Things are happening quickly and you’ve just got to try and, I think in these situations, focus on yourself and get the most out of that and then see where the wind takes me. No changes from the approach. Coming into Budapest, I knew it was going to be two important weekends coming up before the break and obviously hit the break with a bit of momentum. So yeah, that’s where my head’s at. So try and do well.”
Discussions –
Ricciardo: “Yeah, I mean, I still speak with Christian and Helmut on that side still quite a lot. And yeah, I mean, a lot still goes through them, honestly. So that’s that. I mean, other parts of the team? Not really, because obviously I’m here and I focus on this stuff here with my team and my engineers and everything. Obviously, last year I was exposed t,… I was inside the driver’s meetings, like the post-session debriefs, and asking all the engineers some questions and whatever, but clearly that’s not the case now. But yeah, the Christian and Helmut side still, and It’s good to see them after a good result. Helmut still is, he’ll let you know when the result’s not good, but yeah, I definitely feel happy being back in that and under that kind of microscope, if you will, and in that environment with a little bit of that pressure, it’s fun. But yeah, that’s probably the best way I can answer it.
“I don’t want to say you’re as good as your last race, but there is, like, when it comes to these moments, these races are more critical than any other. So as I said, coming into Budapest, and this wasn’t anything I’d heard from them, but even just myself, just telling myself, ‘look, these could be two very, very important races in my career and just leave it all out there and do everything I can’. Because look, obviously going up, that’s, as I said last year, that’s like my goal. I’d love to return, but you know, there’s also talks that will I even be here? So it’s like, there is so much to kind of fight for. And yeah, I think for that, I just really made a point to every race you prepare. And of course, you do what you can. But I just made a point for these two coming up that, yeah, leave it all out there. And that’s that. So yeah. We’ll see.”
Here’s Helmut Marko on decisions
Here’s last from Sergio Perez, Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo
Here’s last from others of F1 seats
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